Electric discharge machine for making thin hole

Abstract

An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole including an intermediate guide having an upper guide and lower guide to support an electrode for forming a small hole at two points between an electrode holder and a small hole guide and also having a chuck, which can be opened and closed, provided in each guide; a first drive unit to drive the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode, a second drive unit to open and close the guide chucks of the intermediate guide; and a third drive unit to variably change distance L between the upper guide and lower guide of the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole comprising: an electrode holder to hold an electrode for forming a small hole; a drive unit to drive the electrode holder and electrode for forming a small hole in the longitudinal direction; a small hole guide having a small hole to guide the electrode for forming a small hole, arranged close to a workpiece; and an electric power source used for electric discharge machining to supply electric power for electrical discharge machining between the electrode for forming a small hole and the workpiece, wherein a small hole is formed in the workpiece by electric discharge energy, 
       the electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole further comprising:  
       an intermediate guide composed of at least two guides to hold the electrode for forming a small hole between the electrode holder and the small hole guide, each guide having a chuck capable of being opened and closed;  
       a first drive unit to drive the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole;  
       a second drive unit to open and close the guide chucks of the intermediate guide; and  
       a third drive unit to variably change a distance between the guides of the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole.  
     
     
       2. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole according to  claim 1  further comprising: a fourth drive unit to drive the small hole guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole. 
     
     
       3. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole comprising: an electrode holder to hold an electrode for forming a small hole; a drive unit to drive the electrode holder and electrode for forming a small hole in the longitudinal direction; a small hole guide having a small hole to guide the electrode for forming a small hole, arranged close to a workpiece; and an electric power source used for electric discharge machining to supply electric power for electrical discharge machining between the electrode for forming a small hole and the workpiece, wherein a small hole is formed in the workpiece by electric discharge energy, 
       the electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole further comprising:  
       an intermediate guide having a first guide to support the electrode for forming a small hole at a position close to the small hole guide and also having a second guide to support the electrode for forming a small hole at a position between the electrode holder and the small hole guide, the second guide having a chuck capable of being opened and closed;  
       a first drive unit to drive the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole;  
       a second drive unit to open and close the chuck of the second guide of the intermediate guide; and  
       a third drive unit to variably change a distance between the first and the second guide of the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole.  
     
     
       4. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole according to  claim 3  further comprising: a fourth drive unit to drive the small hole guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole. 
     
     
       5. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole according to  claim 3 , wherein the first guide of the intermediate guide is provided with a chuck capable of being opened and closed. 
     
     
       6. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole comprising: an electrode holder to hold an electrode for forming a small hole; a drive unit to drive the electrode holder and electrode for forming a small hole in the longitudinal direction; a small hole guide having a small hole to guide the electrode for forming a small hole, arranged close to a workpiece; and an electric power source used for electric discharge machining to supply electric power for machining between the electrode for forming a small hole and the workpiece, wherein a small hole is formed in the workpiece by electric discharge energy, 
       the electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole further comprising:  
       an intermediate guide having a first guide to support the electrode for forming a small hole at a position close to the small hole guide and also having a plurality of guides except for the first guide to support the electrode for forming a small hole at positions between the electrode holder and the small hole guide, the plurality of guides except for the first guide having a chuck capable of being opened and closed;  
       a first drive unit to drive the intermediate guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole;  
       a second drive unit to open and close the chucks of the plurality of guides except for the first guide of the intermediate guide; and  
       a third drive unit to variably change a distance between the first guide and each of the plurality of guides except for the first guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole.  
     
     
       7. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole according  claim 6 , further comprising a fourth drive unit to drive the small hole guide in the longitudinal direction of the electrode for forming a small hole. 
     
     
       8. An electrical discharge machine for forming a small hole according to  claim 6 , wherein the first guide of the intermediate guide has a chuck capable of being opened and closed.